Bishop Peak Natural Reserve

The tallest of the Nine Sisters — that chain of volcanic morros stretching toward Morro Bay — Bishop Peak rises to 1,546 feet above San Luis Obispo, its rocky crown shaped like a bishop's miter. The name tracks: "Obispo" is Spanish for bishop. Quarrying here goes back to 1890; granite from this peak still lines curbs in the city's older neighborhoods. The reserve itself covers 350 acres, assembled through purchases and donations since 1977. The summit trail is demanding. The views are panoramic. Go.